Aesthetic Nursing Course Practice Test

Stopping about seven days before a laser or micropeel focuses on giving the skin a stable, less reactive baseline. Many pre-treatment agents—like topical retinoids and exfoliating acids—can irritate or thin the epidermis and increase photosensitivity. Allowing roughly a week gives the skin time to shed residual effects, repair the barrier, and return toward normal sensitivity so the procedure can be performed with a lower risk of excessive irritation, prolonged healing, or pigment changes. Stopping too close to the procedure (on the day) doesn’t give the skin time to recover, while stopping much earlier isn’t usually necessary for most patients and can leave the regimen out of sync with skincare needs. Always follow the clinician’s protocol, especially if specific medications require longer discontinuation.